Masaki Yokota

Increased incidence of bone metastases in hepatocellular carcinoma

Objectives Recently, we often encounter hepatocellular carcinoma patients with bone metastases. We therefore examined the changes in the incidence of bone metastases in hepatocellular carcinoma from 1978 to 1997 and tried to identify the characteristic clinical features. We also discuss the reasons for the increased incidence of bone metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods A total of 673 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma during the period 1978–1997 were studied. Bone metastasis was screened by bone scintigraphy, and bone lesions were confirmed by plain radiography, computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. The serum levels of the C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen, which represent osteoclastic bone resorption, were also measured. Results The incidence of bone metastasis during the decade 1988–1997 was significantly higher than that during the period 1978–1987. The median survival time of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma during 1988–1997 was also significantly longer than that during 1978–1987. Portal thrombus was found in about half of the patients with bone metastases. The most common site of bone metastases was the vertebra followed by the pelvis, rib and skull in that order. All bone lesions depicted by plain radiograph, computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging were of the osteolytic type, and the serum levels of C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen were significantly elevated in the patients with bone metastases. Conclusions The increased incidence of bone metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma in the decade 1988–1997 is first attributed to the prolonged survival rate of hepatocellular carcinoma patients due to recent progress in both the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Dissemination of hepatocellular carcinoma cells to the vertebra through the portal vein–vertebral vein plexuses due to the presence of portal thrombus and/or portal hypertension may be related to a higher incidence of bone metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Both an early diagnosis and timely treatment of bone metastases are thus called for in the follow-up of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Prevalence of hepatitis B or C virus infections in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are not only hepatotropic, but also lymphotropic viruses. Recently, some reports suggested that these viruses may participate in the development of malignant lymphoproliferative disorders.

Nonfunctioning adrenal rest tumor of the liver : Radiologic appearance

We describe the radiologic features of an adrenal rest tumor of the liver. The adrenal rest tumor appeared on ultrasound as a round, well defined, heterogeneous, solid mass in the posterior aspect of the liver, on angiography as a homogeneous hypervascular mass, and on dynamic CT as a mass containing components of both fat density and soft tissue density and showing early fill-in and early fill-out. Adrenal rest tumors should be included in the lists of hypervascular or fat-containing masses in the liver.

Clinical usefulness of serum phospholipase A2 determination in patients with pancreatic diseases.

A new kit for radioimmunoassay of serum phospholipase A2 (PLA2) with monoclonal antibody (S-0932, Shionogi, Osaka, Japan) was used to examine PLA2 levels in patients with various diseases. Patients with acute pancreatitis showed significantly increased serum PLA2 levels. In patients with chronic pancreatitis, significant correlations were observed between the levels of factors evaluated by the secretin test and serum PLA2 levels. In patients with pancreatic cancer, serum PLA2 levels varied with disease severity. Serum PLA2 concentrations were within the normal range in patients with other malignant tumors, diabetes mellitus, and chronic liver diseases but were increased in patients with chronic renal failure. S-Sepharose column analysis of sera showed a small peak of pro-PLA2 and a large peak of PLA2 in sera from patients with severe acute pancreatitis, but a large peak of pro-PLA2 in healthy controls and patients with other diseases. On G-100 gel filtration, high-molecular-weight PLA2 immunoreactivity was detected in sera of patients with chronic renal failure, whereas a single peak of PLA2 immunoreactivity coinciding with that of standard PLA2 was detected in sera of patients with acute pancreatitis. These results suggest that (a) measurement of serum PLA2 is clinically useful for diagnosis and monitoring of pancreatitis, (b) active PLA2 in the circulation is dominant in severe acute pancreatitis, and (c) the kidney may be the main site of PLA2 degradation or excretion.

Analysis of directional wave spectra in shallow water areas using video image data

In this study, a technique for analyzing directional wave spectra in shallow water areas using video image sequences is presented. The video image was obtained and collected by a single digital video camera. The technique was based on time series of the pixel brightness on video images. The pixel can be treated as a fixed instruments through use of the rectification process. The extended maximum likelihood method and the Bayesian directional method were used to estimate directional wave spectra using two different configurations of arrays from pixel brightness on video images. The study examined video image data at HORS pier on Hasaki Beach, Japan. The results indicate that video image data could be used to estimate surface wave spectra in very shallow water areas.

Basic of project management and environmental project cases

This chapter gives an outline of the basic knowledge of project management while introducing the main points of environmental project cases and case methods. Practical skills in project management methodology, which is management thinking, are required to execute environmental projects along with a deep knowledge of specific expertise. Moreover, it is important to have the ability to take a commanding view and grasp environmental issues in a wide and interdisciplinary manner. Furthermore, the requirements of an environmental project manager include strategic innovation ability in project design, consensus formation skills among a wide variety of stakeholders, and facilitation skills, among others. This chapter gives an explanation of basic vocabulary in project management in Sect. 19.1, the main points of environmental project cases in Sect. 19.2, and case methods in Sect. 19.3.

STUDY ON CHARACTERISTICS AND CAUSE OF SAND WAVES IN THE KANMON WATERWAY

IN THE KANMON WATERWAY Masaru Yamashiro, Kyushu University, yamashiro@civil.kyushu-u.ac.jp Kosaku Oka, Kyushu University, 2TE17283E@s.kyushu-u.ac.jp Noriaki Hashimoto, Kyushu University, hashimoto-n@civil.kyushu-u.ac.jp Yasuyuki Nakagawa, Kyushu University, y.nakagawa@civil.kyushu-u.ac.jp Masaki Yokota, Kyushu Sangyo University, m.yokota@ip.kyusan-u.ac.jp Yukifumi Ikki, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, ikki-y89ua@mlit.go.jp Masaru Takayama, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, takayama-m899v@mlit.go.jp INTRODUCTION The Kanmon waterway is one of the most important international routes in Japan. The waterway is in the Kanmon Strait, which is remarkably narrow and meandering considerably, and the tidal current is rapid and complicated in several places. In the waterway, sand waves, which may hamper the ship navigation, develop on the bottom at some places (Figure 1). The dredging is indispensable to the maintenance of required water depth in the waterway. In this study, for the purpose of accumulating useful knowledge for the efficient maintenance of the Kanmon waterway, the characteristics and cause of the sand waves in the waterway were investigated.

STUDY ON CHARACTERISTICS OF DEPTH CHANGES IN KANMON WATERWAY BASED ON SOUNDING DATA

1正会員 九州大学助教 大学院工学研究院(〒819-0395 福岡県福岡市西区元岡744) E-mail:yamashiro@civil.kyushu-u.ac.jp 2正会員 九州大学助教 大学院工学研究院(〒819-0395 福岡県福岡市西区元岡744) E-mail:yokota.masaki.426@m.kyushu-u.ac.jp 3株式会社建設技術研究所 水工部(〒103-8430 東京都中央区日本橋浜町3-21-1) E-mail: y-ootani@ctie.co.jp 4沖縄県土木建築部 下水道建設事務所(〒900-0029 沖縄県那覇市旭町116-37) E-mail: maeshihi@pref.okinawa.lg.jp 5フェロー 九州大学教授 大学院工学研究院(〒819-0395 福岡県福岡市西区元岡744) E-mail: hashimoto-n@civil.kyushu-u.ac.jp 6フェロー 九州大学教授 大学院工学研究院(〒819-0395 福岡県福岡市西区元岡744) E-mail: kasugai@civil.kyushu-u.ac.jp 7関門航路事務所 航路保全課(〒802-0001福岡県北九州市小倉北区浅野3丁目7-38) E-mail: honda-k898d@pa.qsr.mlit.go.jp 8下関港湾空港技術調査事務所 環境課(〒750-0025 山口県下関市竹崎町4丁目6-1) E-mail: iseri-e89qt@pa.qsr.mlit.go.jp